Drugs are the biggest scourge for our youth, and the government is taking aggressive action against narco-cartels to rescue the addicted and restore their lives, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Observed annually on June 26, the day aims to strengthen global action and cooperation toward a drug-free world.
“Drugs are the biggest scourge for our youth. The Modi government is adopting a whole-of-government approach to tackle this threat — striking narco-cartels ruthlessly and bringing back addicted youth to normal life with empathy,” Shah said in a post on X.
He also emphasised the need to intensify the fight against drug abuse and extended his salute to the “warriors and allies in our battle for a drug-free Bharat.”
This year’s campaign, titled “Break the cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime”, calls for coordinated, long-term efforts to dismantle organized crime and drug trafficking networks by addressing root causes, investing in prevention, and strengthening health, education, and social systems.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the government has been conducting awareness programmes across the country throughout June 2025 under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
According to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), more than 15.78 crore people have been sensitised about substance abuse so far, including over 5.26 crore youth and 3.31 crore women.
“The department is reaching out to a large number of citizens, especially students and youth, to fight the menace of drugs,” the Secretary of DoSJE posted on X.
Meanwhile, the World Drug Report 2025 warns that organized drug trafficking groups continue to evolve, exploiting global crises and targeting vulnerable populations.
Globally, 316 million people used drugs (excluding alcohol and tobacco) in 2023 — about six per cent of the population aged 15 to 64 —compared to 5.2 per cent in 2013.
Cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with 244 million users, followed by opioids (61 million), amphetamines (30.7 million), cocaine (25 million), and ecstasy (21 million). The report also warns that new vulnerable groups, displaced by hardship, instability, and conflict, could drive these numbers even higher.
India has responded to the global drug challenge through robust legal frameworks, widespread awareness campaigns, and community outreach initiatives.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 prohibits non-medical drug use and includes graded penalties along with provisions for immunity for individuals seeking treatment. Additionally, the NDPS (Illicit Traffic) Act, 1988 allows preventive detention of repeat offenders involved in drug trafficking. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 regulates the legal production and distribution of pharmaceuticals in the country.
– IANS
